Software Alternatives, Accelerators & Startups

CurrentWare BrowseControl VS pfSense

Compare CurrentWare BrowseControl VS pfSense and see what are their differences

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CurrentWare BrowseControl logo CurrentWare BrowseControl

BrowseControl web filtering software blocks websites based on URLs and categories. Policies can be customized for each user, department, or OU. Includes other features such as an app blocker, port filter, and download/upload blocker.

pfSense logo pfSense

pfSense is a free and open source firewall and router that also features unified threat management, load balancing, multi WAN, and more
  • CurrentWare BrowseControl The central console of CurrentWare BrowseControl can be accessed from a web browser
    The central console of CurrentWare BrowseControl can be accessed from a web browser //
    2024-02-27
  • CurrentWare BrowseControl Block downloads and uploads of specific file types with CurrentWare BrowseControl's file filter
    Block downloads and uploads of specific file types with CurrentWare BrowseControl's file filter //
    2024-02-27
  • CurrentWare BrowseControl Prevent .EXE files from launching with CurrentWare BrowseControl's app blocker
    Prevent .EXE files from launching with CurrentWare BrowseControl's app blocker //
    2024-02-27
  • CurrentWare BrowseControl Present a custom website blocked message when a user visits a website blocked by CurrentWare BrowseControl
    Present a custom website blocked message when a user visits a website blocked by CurrentWare BrowseControl //
    2024-02-27

BrowseControl is an easy-to-use Internet control software that restricts Internet access and enforces web usage policies across your network. Unique Internet restriction policies can be configured based on groups of users or computers.

Websites can be blocked based on IP address, URL, URL keyword, and web content category.

Website blocking with BrowseControl gives you full control over internet and app usage in your organization. BrowseControl’s client agent will keep track of the list of websites and apps you want to block for each group of users. or computers, ensuring it blocks across all of your managed devices.

BrowseControl can also prevent apps from launching, block specific file types from being uploaded/downloaded, and block network ports.

  • pfSense Landing page
    Landing page //
    2021-09-20

CurrentWare BrowseControl

$ Details
paid Free Trial $5.0 / Monthly (per user, paid annually)
Platforms
Windows
Startup details
Country
Canada
State
Ontario
City
Ottawa
Founder(s)
Divyesh Lakhani, Jay Lakhani
Employees
10 - 19

CurrentWare BrowseControl features and specs

  • URL Filter
  • Web Content Category Filter
  • App Blocker
  • Port Filter
  • Download Filter
  • Custom Warning Message
  • Custom Block Lists
  • Internet Quota
  • Active Directory Sync

pfSense features and specs

  • Open Source
    pfSense is open-source software, meaning it is free to use and has a large community-driven development environment. This allows for continuous improvement and updates.
  • Comprehensive Feature Set
    pfSense provides a wide array of features including firewall, VPN, routing, load balancing, and more, all within a single platform.
  • Customizability
    The platform offers extensive customization options for advanced users, allowing for tailored security and network solutions.
  • Excellent Documentation
    pfSense has a robust and detailed documentation repository, as well as an active community forum, which helps users troubleshoot and optimize their setup.
  • Enterprise Level Security
    With features like stateful packet filtering, role-based access control, and intrusion detection systems, pfSense offers high levels of security suitable for enterprise applications.
  • Scalability
    pfSense is highly scalable, suitable for small home networks up to large enterprise environments, allowing businesses to grow without having to switch platforms.

Possible disadvantages of pfSense

  • Complexity
    pfSense can be complex to configure and manage, especially for users who do not have extensive networking knowledge or experience.
  • Hardware Requirements
    High performance and some advanced features of pfSense may require more robust hardware compared to other solutions, which could increase costs.
  • Learning Curve
    The platform's extensive feature set can result in a steep learning curve for new users, particularly those unfamiliar with networking concepts.
  • Third-Party Integration
    While pfSense supports numerous plugins and features, integrating with some third-party solutions may require additional configuration and expertise.
  • Limited Support for Non-router Functions
    Although quite powerful as a firewall/router, pfSense may lack support for functionalities outside its primary roles, such as advanced endpoint protection or cloud-native security controls.
  • Updates and Maintenance
    Keeping the system up-to-date and secure requires regular maintenance and updates, which might be cumbersome for users managing multiple instances or complex configurations.

Analysis of CurrentWare BrowseControl

Overall verdict

  • Overall, CurrentWare BrowseControl is a strong option for businesses looking to manage and monitor internet usage effectively. Its ease of use, detailed reporting, and granular web access controls make it a powerful tool for any organization that needs to maintain internet safety and efficiency. However, it might require a bit of a learning curve for those not familiar with IT management tools.

Why this product is good

  • CurrentWare BrowseControl is known for its ability to enhance productivity and ensure security by allowing administrators to manage internet access and monitor browsing activities effectively. It provides comprehensive web filtering features that help organizations restrict access to non-work-related websites, thereby minimizing distractions and maintaining focus. The software also has robust reporting features, offering insights into user activity and helping in compliance with organizational policies.

Recommended for

    CurrentWare BrowseControl is recommended for businesses and organizations that need to ensure employees stay productive and adhere to internet usage policies. It's particularly useful for IT administrators and managers in sectors like education, healthcare, and finance, where data security and compliance are critical. Small to medium-sized enterprises looking for an affordable yet effective internet management solution may also find it beneficial.

Analysis of pfSense

Overall verdict

  • Yes, pfSense is generally considered a good option for network security.

Why this product is good

  • pfSense is an open-source firewall and router that offers robust security features.
  • It supports a wide range of configurations and add-ons, making it highly flexible and customizable.
  • pfSense is known for its reliability and strong performance, even under demanding network conditions.
  • The platform includes features such as VPN, traffic shaping, load balancing, and more, which are often found in commercial products.
  • The community and commercial support from Netgate provides valuable resources for troubleshooting and enhancements.
  • Its open-source nature means regular updates and improvements contributed by a community of users and developers.

Recommended for

  • Small to medium-sized organizations looking for an affordable yet powerful firewall solution.
  • Network professionals and enthusiasts who appreciate customization and open-source solutions.
  • Educational institutions needing a secure and versatile firewall and router solution.
  • Any environment that requires a reliable and feature-rich firewall without the cost of commercial alternatives.

CurrentWare BrowseControl videos

BrowseControl Web Filtering Software Overview | CurrentWare v9.0.1

More videos:

  • Tutorial - How to Block Websites - Web Filtering Software Tutorial | BrowseControl

pfSense videos

pfsense Firewall Setup and Features in Depth Version 2.4

More videos:

  • Review - Pfsense: 5 Reasons to Use It
  • Review - Netgate SG-3100 Teardown / Speedtest / Review of this powerful pfsense packet pusher!

Category Popularity

0-100% (relative to CurrentWare BrowseControl and pfSense)
Time Tracking
100 100%
0% 0
Perimeter Security And Firewalls
Web Filtering Software
100 100%
0% 0
Cyber Security
0 0%
100% 100

Questions and Answers

As answered by people managing CurrentWare BrowseControl and pfSense.

Why should a person choose your product over its competitors?

CurrentWare BrowseControl's answer

Simplicity: Block or allow websites in just a few clicks. Easily provide limited access to your URL and web content category filter settings to allow trusted operators to customize the web filtering policies for their department.

Data Residency & Control: Retain full control over your user activity data by deploying the management software locally rather than sending it to a third party

Customer Support: CurrentWare's dedicated support team is available over live chat, email, and phone to ensure your ongoing success with our software. We will support you every step of the way—whether you’re just starting your free trial or actively using CurrentWare to improve the security and productivity of your organization

Affordability: We provide critical security controls at an advantageous price to keep security accessible to organizations of all sizes. In addition to our accessible pricing, we offer a variety of discounts based on non-profit status, volume, contract term, and more.

User comments

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Reviews

These are some of the external sources and on-site user reviews we've used to compare CurrentWare BrowseControl and pfSense

CurrentWare BrowseControl Reviews

22 NextDNS Alternatives
BrowseControl is an easy-to-use website bocking software for schools, businesses, libraries, and other organizations where annoying ads and distracting websites are not acceptable. BrowseControl is a robust platform for restricting internet access without getting indulged in heavy scenarios. Improving the security of the internet, blocking distracting websites, and enforcing...

pfSense Reviews

The top 10 alternatives to OpenVPN
Netgate offers secure networking solutions, including pfSense Plus and TNSR software, which provide firewall, router, and VPN functionalities. These solutions cater to personal users, professional users, and organizations seeking secure and reliable internet connectivity.
Best pfSense Software Alternatives and Competitors
pfSense Software firewall is a robust, open-source security solution that is compatible with any hardware and can be tailored to meet your specific needs. It is a widely used technology, and many individuals seek dependable, popular software solutions with multi-device support, multiple concurrent connections, and protocol selections. Despite its usefulness, pfSense has...
The Best Open Source Router OS Software for Large or Small Networks
pfSense is a free and open-source router and firewall operating system based on the FreeBSD operating system. It is designed to be used on standard x86 hardware and can be deployed as a virtual machine or on dedicated hardware. pfSense offers advanced features and capabilities that are typically found in commercial routers and firewalls, making it an ideal solution for small...
Best free Linux router and firewall distributions of 2023
pfSense is one of the most popular operating systems today. It's a BSD-based system, similar to OPNSense, but with a longer history. pfSense started in 2004, and since then, it has grown to be the most well-known open-source platform in the industry. Although it gradually loses users to OPNsense, it's still an excellent system for new users because it has the most extensive...
Source: teklager.se
11 Best pfsense Alternatives To Secure Your Network
Unlike those of other available pfSense competitors, its capabilities allow it to be compared to commercial firewalls. You can also customize the pfSense firewall to match your needs based on the level of security and protection you want, as well as your specialist knowledge.

Social recommendations and mentions

Based on our record, pfSense seems to be more popular. It has been mentiond 10 times since March 2021. We are tracking product recommendations and mentions on various public social media platforms and blogs. They can help you identify which product is more popular and what people think of it.

CurrentWare BrowseControl mentions (0)

We have not tracked any mentions of CurrentWare BrowseControl yet. Tracking of CurrentWare BrowseControl recommendations started around Mar 2021.

pfSense mentions (10)

  • Need some help on setting up home network
    Https://pfsense.org (netgate hardware is used in businesses). Source: about 2 years ago
  • Is pfsense.org down, or is it just me?
    I am having trouble seeing available packages, updating pkg, or getting a response from pfsense.org. Is anyone else seeing this or am I going to spend the rest of my day chasing bugs? Source: over 2 years ago
  • Help with VLAN
    From the PIA Client to pfsense.org PING pfsense.org (208.123.73.69) from 10.6.112.128: 56 data bytes 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=0 ttl=49 time=49.455 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=1 ttl=49 time=51.927 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=2 ttl=49 time=49.333 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=3 ttl=49 time=49.133 ms 64 bytes from 208.123.73.69: icmp_seq=4 ttl=49 time=49.027 ms ... Source: over 2 years ago
  • Can Surveillance Station record offsite cameras ?
    The above setup is critical to a reliable system. I'd use enterprise quality routers for a store and home connection. I personally use https://pfsense.org but there are many to choose from and several open source. Source: almost 3 years ago
  • Exposing Synology to web: best/practical practices?
    What I would do is put that thing in DMZ and install a good router behind it like https://www.pfsense.org. No affiliation, just been my router for many years. There's also it's sibling https://opnsense.org. There are many, just get a enterprise quality router. Source: almost 3 years ago
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What are some alternatives?

When comparing CurrentWare BrowseControl and pfSense, you can also consider the following products

Qustodio - Free parental control software. Monitor and track your child's online activity. Block dangerous sites and protect kids from online bullying.

OPNsense - OPNsense® you next open source firewall. Free Download. High-end Security Made Easy™. Offers Intrusion Prevention, Captive Portal, Traffic Shaping and more.

Hubstaff - Simple yet powerful employee work tracker with screenshots, timesheets, billing, in-depth reports, and more. Understand productivity issues and act on them.

SonicWall - SonicWall security solutions protects your network, systems, users and data from cyber threats.

K9 Web Protection - This also contains the feature “Blacklist Without Password” which allows non-admin users to add sites to the “Always Block” list without requiring the K9 admin password.

Comodo Firewall - Comodo Firewall Pro - Secure your system against internal attacks such as Trojan viruses /...